Whether good or bad, the Singapore education system places much emphasis on the results of major examinations like the O Levels. It opens the doors to the range of schools that the student has access to, and generally speaking, the better the school, the higher the chances of academic success. And although nothing is definite, academic success tends to lend to future professional success, especially in a competitive environment like Singapore.
O Level A-Math can be a challenging subject that builds on the foundation that E Maths encompasses. With many new and more complex topics, students who struggle with E Math typically struggle with A-Math. Fret not! Our team of dedicated tutors can help!
Overview of Our O Level A-Math Tutoring Services
A-Math Tuition
A-Math goes beyond the compulsory E Math syllabus and is an optional subject, introducing more advanced topics such as calculus, statistics, trigonometry, and algebra. It is essential for students who want to pursue higher studies in mathematics, science, engineering, or economics. However, as it is a significant step up from E Math, tuition is often necessary to keep ahead of the pack.
Our tuition program will focus on addressing each student’s specific learning styles. Experienced tutors will break down complex concepts into simpler, more palatable parts to make things easier for students to grasp principles.
A-Math ‘O’ Level Exam Preparation
Exams are a stressful time for students and the ‘O’ levels are no exception. Being a major exam, upcoming ‘O’ levels are often a source of anxiety for many students, especially if they lack confidence in a certain subject.
Our tutors are sensitive to the needs of the students and will tailor their lesson plans accordingly. Extensive administering of practice tests will help identify any knowledge gaps in the student’s education, first addressing mistakes before moving ahead. In addition, a large range of past-year exam papers will give students an idea of what to expect.
Our Private O Level A-Math Tutors
Our dedicated team of tutors come from a diverse background, all trained specifically to teach higher mathematics. With qualifications that range from Bachelor’s Degrees to post-graduate such as Masters and PhDs, the majority of our tutors are also MOE or ex-MOE teachers. This means they are extremely familiar with the Singapore school syllabus and can rely on that knowledge to help their students score well in the competitive system.
In addition, we also look for skills like versatility, problem-solving abilities, adaptability, and soft skills such as kindness, empathy, and patience. Tutors often develop a trusting, nurturing relationship with their students who stay with them throughout many years.
Educational Philosophy and Approach
Our Educational Philosophy and Approach for O Level A-Math
We pride ourselves in providing all our students with an engaging and supportive environment for them to be their best.
At Private Tutor SG, we believe in an extremely student-centric approach to ‘O’ Level A Math. No two students learn at the same rate or using the same style, and each tutor is trained to first identify the student’s needs, and then tailor a lesson plan accordingly. For example, a student who is ahead of the school class could be given more challenging, complex problems to solve while a student who is lagging slightly would be more schooled on the fundamentals.
Tuition sessions typically include comprehensive notes, detailed explanations of difficult topics, and ample practice with past exam papers and challenging problems. This not only helps students reinforce their understanding but also builds their confidence in applying mathematical concepts under exam conditions.
Why Have O Level A-Math Tuition
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Mastering Complex Concepts
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Different Learning Paces and Styles
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Filling Knowledge Gaps
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Higher Scores In ‘O’ Level A-Math
Mastering Complex Concepts
The jump from E Math to A Math can be a significant one, with more advanced mathematical topics such as calculus, logarithms, and trigonometry. The learning curve is typically steeper, especially if students are already struggling with E Math. Without a proper foundation in E Math, being successful in A Math will be difficult, if not impossible.
Tutors can help struggling students build a proper foundation on which more complex topics can learned. With personalised lesson plans and one-on-one attention, the learning curve of students is often dramatically improved.
Different Learning Paces and Styles
In a class full of 30 or 40 students, it can be difficult for the teacher to tailor to everyone’s learning pace and style. Students quicker to pick things up might end up bored and lose focus, while students who struggle to grasp certain concepts could be left behind and lose interest. In addition, some students learn a certain way, like through memorisation and repetition, while others might learn through practice and hands-on experience.
By having private tuition, tutors can adapt their teaching methods and pace to each student, paying closer attention to the results and adjusting their lesson plans to suit.
Filling Knowledge Gaps
Like many subjects, knowledge gaps in A Maths can make moving ahead with school lessons extremely challenging. If students fail to grasp fundamental topics, they might struggle with lessons as the rest of the class proceeds. And as the class moves on, lagging students might get left behind and if so, get discouraged, lose hope and interest, and ultimately lead to an endless cycle that is bound to fail.
Private tuition can help quickly address those knowledge gaps and ensure that the student can keep up with the rest of the class. By enjoying success in their school classes, students often regain interest, and this results in greater effort and motivation.
Higher Scores In ‘O’ Level A-Math
Statistically, the vast majority of students who receive ‘O’ Level A Math tuition have scores significantly higher than their peers. In a competitive environment such as Singapore, results are paramount, especially when being graded on a curve. Better grades will open the doors to a wider selection of junior colleges, polytechnics, and other tertiary institutions.
In addition, when a student sees better results, this often gives them more motivation to try harder, which ultimately results in excellent academic performance. This positive cycle does wonders for mental health, as exam time can be stressful a time for struggling students.
Common Challenges When Learning O Level A-Math
A-Math is a complex subject that requires a strong foundation. If a student is lacking the fundamentals, grasping more complex topics will be extremely difficult. In a typical school class, a lecture-style type of teaching is employed, and if a student lags, he or she will find it challenging to keep up with the rest of the class.
Some students need a helping hand to go back to basics and master fundamentals before moving on with the rest of the class. Failing to get that can result in repeated failure, loss of interest, and ultimately, lack of motivation.
A-Math is a time-intensive subject that often requires loads of practice. Between their regular classes, homework, study sessions, and other school activities, students often struggle to find time to dedicate to practicing A Math, which involves intense focus and a lack of distraction.
A lot of O Level success is practicing using past-year exam papers and this takes an incredible amount of time as each paper takes hours to complete.
A-Math is a significant step up from E Math, which is already a big change from the math taught in Secondary Two. Complex topics such as algebra, calculus, statistics, and trigonometry require students to think more abstractly, which can be difficult for those who are more visual learners. Many students already struggle with the jump to E Math after lower secondary school, and yet more find the difference between A and E Math overwhelming.
Exam anxiety is a very real thing and students often suffer from it, especially if they know they are weak in the subject. The ‘O’ levels are a major exam that can have a significant impact on a student’s life, not just academically but well into adulthood.
This fear of failure can impact academic performance, resulting in poor grades and increasing anxiety in a negative cycle. The pressure to perform in the ‘O’ levels can also exacerbate the issue.